The parents of Sam Bankman-Fried, the publicly disgraced FTX co-founder, are reportedly exploring avenues to secure a presidential pardon for their son from Donald Trump.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, both Stanford Law School professors, have allegedly engaged in discussions with lawyers and individuals in Trump’s political orbit regarding clemency for their son, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud. 

While it remains unclear whether any direct outreach has been made to the White House, the move signals a new chapter in Bankman-Fried’s legal battle.‍

A Presidential Lifeline?

Trump’s swift and unconventional use of his pardon powers—including his recent clemency for Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht—has spurred a flurry of pardon requests from white-collar defendants. 

Ulbricht, who ran the infamous darknet marketplace, was serving a life sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering before Trump commuted his sentence, following pressure from the crypto and libertarian communities.

However, Bankman-Fried’s case lacks the same grassroots support. The former crypto mogul has argued that his sentence was “draconian”, noting that FTX customers have largely recovered most of the funds lost in the exchange’s collapse. Meanwhile, Ryan Salame, a former FTX executive sentenced to over seven years, has also reportedly joined the push for a pardon.‍

Clemency Rush in Trump’s Circle

With Trump’s return to office bringing a wave of legal maneuvering, figures close to him are receiving a flood of pardon inquiries. Jeffrey Grant, who runs a New York-based legal advisory firm for white-collar defendants, revealed he’s received nearly 100 requests from individuals looking for a way to secure clemency.

“We have been hearing from people in prison, from people recently sentenced who haven’t reported to the Bureau of Prisons, from people who have been indicted,” Grant told Bloomberg. “They are looking for somebody who knows somebody.”

Despite the growing pressure, some legal professionals are wary of the process. Grant expressed disapproval of wealthy and well-connected individuals using their influence to bypass the traditional Justice Department clemency office, stating that his organization does not facilitate such efforts.

Unlike his first term, where most clemency decisions came in the final days, Trump has already started issuing high-profile pardons, fueling speculation about who could be next. 

Sources suggest Trump has been cautious about granting clemency for certain offenses, reportedly advising close aides that sex crimes, violent offenses, and illegal immigration cases should not be considered.

Meanwhile, Alan Dershowitz, the prominent Harvard Law professor who helped facilitate pardons during Trump’s first term, acknowledged that he’s already receiving calls for assistance in securing clemency.

“I said call me back in a month,” Dershowitz told Bloomberg. “Right now, Trump is busy doing other things.”

While Bankman-Fried and Trump hail from vastly different worlds, both have grievances with US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, the judge who presided over Bankman-Fried’s case. Kaplan was also behind the defamation and sexual assault lawsuits against Trump brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll. Both men have publicly criticized the judge, fueling speculation that Trump may view Bankman-Fried’s case with some degree of sympathy.

Although Bankman-Fried was once a top Democratic donor, Trump’s history of granting clemency to figures across the political spectrum leaves the door open for a potential intervention. Whether that door leads to a presidential pardon or another legal dead-end, however, remains to be seen.